Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-09
DEATH ON THE DEEP.
A TERRIBLE sHIPwREcK ON THE vIR-
GINA COAST.
Over Twenty Lives Lost-Gallant bat Un-
svsiling Work Of the Life
Saving Crews.
speeIal ,eleqram 10 the Dispatoh.I

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Especial telegram to the Dispatch.I
NORFOLK, VA, January S.-One OF the
most terrible sbipwrecks that ever occur
red on the Virginia coast happened at
O'Clock this morning near the Little-lsland
life-saying station, about fourteen miles
south OF Cape Henry. BY the disaster not
less than twenty, and probably more than
that number OF lives. were lost, and among
them we're five heroic life-saying men, who
In an endeayOr to save the lives OF others
lost their own.
HEAVY sYOw.sToRM.
The morning was bitterly cold aud
heavy suOw.stOrm was prevailing, making
the atmosphere so thick that 1t was impos-
sible to see any great distance. A strong
northeast wind was blowing, and the night
was as dreary as has ever been experienced
by the jewellers on the coast.
During a temporary cessation OF the
snow.storm the liie.saying patrol from
Little Island sighted a large ship stranded
on the bar about 500 yards from the shore.
When he saw the vessel he was waiting II
meet the patrol from Dam Neck life-saving
station and exchange checks, showing that
both patrols had been 10 the end OF their
beats.
FIRED ROCKETS.
The Dam.N Neck patrol was but few
wards distant when the vessel was sighted.
and both parties having first fred rocket
to notify the crew OF the stranded vessel
that she had been seen from the shore, and
that assistance was being sought, FASTENED
back TO their respective stations and noti-
fed the crews OF the liie-stations. Id q
short time both crews, with their life-boats,
mortars, lifeline. and other liie-saylug
apparatus, were abreast OF the wreck. and
soon the boom Of a mortar announced that
a line had been shot out 10 the stranded
vessel. The line. however, did not reach
the vessel, and the second mortar was fired,
but with a little success as the first. In ali
the line was fred six times without reach
ing the vessel, and 1t was then seen that she
was beyond the range OF both mOrtars.
THE SITUATION AG0NIZING.
The situation was then agonizing. A large
crew Of stauncb vessel were there IN the
storm, in sight OF land, and would perish
almost 10 sight OF the men whose profession
was to save the lives OF shipwrecked mari
ners. But the sea rolled mountains high
no boat could live I'm II. and IL was certain
death to attempt to reach the stranded ship,
and. with blanched faces, the lfe-sayers
gazed at each other, and their looks rather
spoke, "What can we d0Y"
SELECTING A CREW.
In the dreadful emergency Captain Be.
langa decided to make an effort TO save the
lives OF the crew OF the ship, and selecting
boats crew OF the most expert bOatmen
from the life saying crews OF both stations,
he took command, aud, springing into the
life.bOat, these gallant fellows were soon
battling with the pillows on a mission OF
mercy, and one which was soon TO result
in their death. outward toward the dis
tressed ship went the gallant life-boat
crew, while those on shore watched with
terrible anxiety, expecting TO see the boat
tossed into the air by the furious sea, until
at length the ship was reached and the
work OF rescuiDg the crew begun. Five Of
the men were taken INTO the boat, and the
ships boat was launched and ten Of her
crew got into 1t.
HEADED FOR SHORE.
The boats were headed for the shore,
while not a word was spoken, the twenty
two men in the two boats realizing that
they were in deadly peril-every wave
threatening to engulf them, every moment
perhaps their last. With steady pull they
were making good Roadway for the shore,
when wave OF tremendous power struck
both boats, capsiZiug them instantly and
throwing their twenty-five occupants into
the boiling sea.
DREADFUL STRUGGLE.
Then began dreadful struggle for life
lau ~ III
seas and elements. With many OF the men
the battle was a prolonged one, and life was
only surrendered after yainly struggling
until their energies were exhausted. Their
senses fled and their limbs frOze, and they
sank beneath the waves never TO rise agaln.
HORRIFIED WATCHERS.
The Mortified l:fe-sayers on the beach
were powCrle>s 10 assist their drowning
comrades or the crew 81 the Ship. The
drowning men were rapidly carried south
ward 10y the rushing seas, aud some Of them
were washed ashore. A soon ~ they were
within reach they were picked up by the
liie-ssyinV men, and endeavOrS were made
10 resuScitate thCm. and with success in two
cases. Out Of nine bOlies that have washed
ashore but two have been restored to con-
sciOusness, and one Of these i very badly
injured, and is now very III from the eX-
posture ana will die.
WILL so TO PIECES.
The vessel Is the German ship Elizabeth.
Captain Halhcr,taGt, from Hamburg to
Baltimore. Owing TO the heavy sea no one
has ventured to reach the ship since the oc-
currencc Of The disaster, but it is thought
that she is leaking badly and viii PROBABLY
90 to pieces. At sunset her masts were
seen to be giving way. Captain Abel Be
langa, J. W. Land, George W. stone, j. A.
Belanga, and Joseph Sp:allcy, l'e-sayers,
were drowned, aud John Etheredge and
Frank Fleetwood, hie-sayers, were saved,
but the former is too badly injured to live.
New Railroad I'm Virginia.
~ .-r-.-.. L. Z. ~. IAl......nl.